Holidays needn’t break bank

KEEPING the kids busy during the school holidays can be a challenging — and expensive — task but a Burnie mother believes there are plenty of cheap and easy options in Tasmania.

Research by Groupon Australia has found Australian parents are set to spend more than $800 million, or almost $400 per family, entertaining their children over summer.

Aussie parents can expect to spend more than $600 million (about $289 per family) entertaining their kids and almost $200 million (about $94 per family) entertaining their kids’ friends over the summer break, the research found.

About 79 per cent of Aussie parents admit their kids get bored during the summer holidays.

Parents admit they are lacking creativity and inspiration when they do suggest activities to tackle boredom, with the most common being to “go play outside” (74 per cent), followed by “read a book” (61 per cent) and “help with the housework” (52 per cent).

Selena Elphinstone, of Burnie, works as a real estate agent and has some rare time off over the break. She said her children, Maya Papas, 11, and twins Rhani and Malik Rad- ford, 6, were kept busy for a while by their Christmas gifts, but the novelty didn’t last for- ever. “[School holidays are] crazy, insane, but you wouldn’t have it any other way,” she said. Ms Elphinstone said Tasmania offered countless cheap or free holiday options that were easy and kid-friendly.

“It tends to be [expensive] these days, but I try to keep it as simple as possible,” she said.

“We go to the beach a lot, Boat Harbour is one of the more favoured places to go.

“I do like to simplify it and keep it as low-key as possible, but I can understand how some parents probably do continue to spend hard-earned dollars during the break.”

Inexpensive school holiday options in the Hobart region include the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens, and the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery’s The Remarkable Tasmanian Devil exhibition.

LINCs across the state are hosting events and activities throughout the school holidays, most of which are free but some may require a booking.

It tends to be [expensive] these days, but I try to keep it as simple as possible. We go to the beach a lot.

SELENA ELPHINSTONE